Lupine plant named ‘ET LPN 815’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lupine plant named ‘ET LPN 815’, characterized by its upright and relatively compact plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; strong and sturdy flower stems; numerous large violet blue and white bi-colored flowers arranged on dense terminal racemes; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lupinus hybrid.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ET LPN 815’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO A RELATED APPLICATION & STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTORS/APPLICANTS

This application claims priority to a European Community Plant Breeders' Rights application filed on Oct. 5, 2021, application number 2021/2496. There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one of ordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed Plant Breeder's Rights documents.

The Inventors/Applicants assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventors/Applicants. Inventors/Applicants claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lupine plant, botanically known as Lupinus hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘ET LPN 815’.

The new Lupine plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Boijl, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new compact and freely flowering Lupine plants with a long flowering period.

The new Lupine plant originated from a cross-pollination in August, 2017 of a proprietary selection of Lupinus hybrid identified as code number H-1397, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Lupinus hybrid identified as code number 258 LPN, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lupine plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in July, 2018 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Boijl, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lupine plant by in vitro meristem culture in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boijl, The Netherlands since August, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Lupine plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lupine have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ET LPN 815’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ET LPN 815’ as a new and distinct Lupine plant:

-   -   1. Upright and relatively compact plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Strong and sturdy flower stems.     -   4. Numerous large violet blue and white bi-colored flowers         arranged on dense terminal racemes.     -   5. Daylength neutral.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lupine can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Lupine differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lupine are shorter than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Lupine are more freely flowering than         plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Lupine can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Lupine differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lupine are more compact and have shorter         internodes than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Lupine have smaller leaves than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Lupine are daylength neutral whereas plants         of the male parent selection are daylength dependent.

Plants of the new Lupine can be compared to plants of Lupinus hybrid ‘ET LPN 802’, disclosed in an U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 17/672,530. Plants of the new Lupine differ primarily from plants of ‘ET LPN 802’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lupine have slightly longer internodes than         plants of ‘ET LPN 802’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Lupine are violet blue and white         bi-colored whereas flowers of plants of ‘ET LPN 802’ are light         yellow in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Lupine plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lupine plant. The photograph is side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘ET LPN 815’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new Lupine grown during the spring and summer in 26-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Boijl, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lupine production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 16° C. Plants were one year old when the photograph and the detailed description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lupinus hybrid ‘ET LPN 815’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lupinus             hybrid identified as code number H-1397, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lupinus             hybrid identified as code number 258 LPN, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to eight days at             ambient temperatures about 20° C. and substrate temperatures             about 15° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four to             six weeks at ambient temperatures about 20° C. and substrate             temperatures about 15° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; typically             close to 162C in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium in density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and relatively compact plant             habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth             rate.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 25 cm             to 55 cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 75 cm             to 105 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 50 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 10 cm.         -   Stem strength.—Moderately strong to strong.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy to matte.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 145B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate and slightly whorled; palmately             compound with about eight to twelve leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 8 cm to 18 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 15 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 4 cm to 9 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 1.5 cm to 3 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Palmate, roughly orbicular in outline.         -   Leaflet shape.—Lanceolate to oblanceolate to close to             elliptical.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute to obtuse.         -   Leaflet base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Entire.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             matte.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Pubescent,             rugose; matte.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             143A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B.             Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Darker than 143A;             venation, close to 144B. Fully expanded leaflets, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 144C to 144D.         -   Leaf petioles.—Length: About 12 cm to 20 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm to 4 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth to pubescent; semi-glossy to matte. Strength:             Moderately strong to strong. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 145B.         -   Stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: One or two at the base             of the petiole. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3 mm to             6 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 145B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance and arrangement.—Large single             papilionaceous flowers arranged in dense terminal racemes;             freely flowering habit with usually about 100 flowers             developing per inflorescence and up to 1,000 flowers             developing per plant during the flowering season; flowers             face initially erect to mostly outwardly with development.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from spring             into the summer in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three weeks on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; peppery.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 45 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm to 4 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About             1 cm. Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy to matte. Color: Close to 145C becoming closer             to 155A and N88A with development.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Flowers papilionaceous with an             upper (standard) petal, two lateral (wing) petals and a             lower (keel) petal; petals not fused. Length: Upper petal:             About 1.5 cm. Lateral petals: About 2 cm. Lower petal: About             1 cm. Width: Upper petal: About 2 cm. Lateral petals: About             1 cm. Lower petal: About 5 mm. Shape: Upper petal:             Orbicular. Lateral petals: Obovate. Lower petal: Ovate.             Apex: Upper petal: Rounded. Lateral petals: Obtuse. Lower             petal: Caudate. Base, all petals: Cordate. Margin, all             petals: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces, all petals: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; matte.             Color, when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Upper             petal: Close to 155A, proximally flushed with close to N88B;             color becoming darker with subsequent development. Lateral             petals: Close to N88A; color becoming darker with subsequent             development. Lower petal: Close to 91C; apex, close to N89A;             color becoming darker with subsequent development. Venation,             all petals: Close to lamina colors or close to N89A. Color,             when opening and fully opened, lower surface: Upper petal:             Close to 155A; color does not change with development.             Lateral petals: Close to N88C; color becoming darker with             subsequent development. Lower petal: Close to 91C; color             becoming darker with subsequent development. Venation, all             petals: Close to lamina colors or close to N89A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Two, opposite.             Length: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Width: About 2 mm to 3 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse to cordate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; satiny; slightly glossy to matte. Color:             When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 145C.             When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 145C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 70 cm to 90 cm. Diameter: About 1             cm to 3 cm. Strength: Strong and sturdy. Aspect: Mostly             erect. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             Close to 144C to 144D.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 7 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 70° to 80° from             peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: Close to 145C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About             six to nine. Filament length: About 7 mm to 9 mm. Filament             color: Close to 145D. Anther length: About 1 mm to 3 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 21A. Amount of             pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 21A. Gynoecium:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style             length: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Style color: Whiter than 145D.             Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shaped: Rounded. Stigma             color: Whiter than 145D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.         -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development has             not been observed on plants of the new Lupine. -   Garden performance: In the garden, plants of the new Lupine have     been observed to be daylength neutral. Additionally, plants of the     new Lupine have been observed to have good garden performance and to     tolerate rain, wind, temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to     about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Lupine have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Lupine plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lupine plant named ‘ET LPN 815’ as illustrated and described. 